They’ve been pals since high school, ever since Andy Farmer was a senior on the North Side High team and helped new guy B.J. Stanfield with his golf game.

Stanfield was the only freshman to make the golf team, and they both eventually played at Lambuth University as well.

Stanfield, 33, and Farmer, 36, were the two featured players in Sunday afternoon’s Stone Cup championship, and they regularly chatted with one another in between holes as they played for the Jackson/Madison County golf title.

“There’s probably never been so much talking in a championship match ever,” Stanfield said.

They both enjoyed themselves, but the result was Stanfield’s to savor.

Ahead by one hole in the match play event with one hole to go, Stanfield needed only a draw with Farmer on 18 to clinch the title.

Butch Cashon, a friend of the late local golfer Albert Stone, Jr. for whom the event is named, handed Stanfield the trophy. He is the eighth man to win in the event’s nine years.

“I’m pleased with how I played all weekend. I feel like I struck the ball tee to green and rolled the ball as well as anybody this weekend,” Stanfield said.

Stanfield, the No. 5 seed out of 16 match play qualifiers, won in front of his parents and several other friendly faces.

“All [Farmer’s] friends are my friends, too, so they were torn on who to pull for,” Stanfield said.

Stanfield lost in the 2010 finals to Scott Metcalf.

“That was kind of hard to swallow because I felt like I had beat the two best players in the field that year and just didn’t play good on Sunday,” he said.

Tournament director Hank Shackelford could not remember another Stone Cup final requiring the full 18 holes, and for a bit it didn’t look like this one would either.

Farmer drew even with a win on No. 2 but missed a few opportunities with his putting and fell behind by three holes with five to play.

Then he got busy. He made a good putt at 14 and a par at 16 to close the gap to one hole.

“I probably got a little boost of energy,” Farmer, the No. 10 seed, said. “I was flat wore out. I’ve only played one round of golf before the Stone Cup this whole year.”

Each made par on 17. Stanfield’s second shot on 18 landed several feet from the pin, but Farmer’s went over the green. He was unable to win the hole and catch Stanfield.